Chapter 22. Prayer and Salvation (15)

I’ve never lived my life seriously contemplating my purpose.

It could be said that I lived impulsively, without setting goals or making plans.

However, if I had to pick one goal I had within that, it would be to deny the existence of God.

The reason for that denial was simply because of the words and actions of my family towards me.

Thinking about it now, I don’t know how I managed to maintain that thought until I got so old.

Going back and forth between work and home, occasionally taking a vacation to travel a bit further. Meeting friends for a meal, having a drink.

It wasn’t a life with grand goals, but I surprisingly liked that kind of life quite a bit.

The lives of people weren’t resting on my shoulders. The power I possessed was so small that even offering a little help to a passerby was a bit overwhelming.

Perhaps that’s why I’ve never felt ‘heaviness’ in my life.

“…….”

My body lacks strength.

My entire body felt drained, perhaps because I was holding that heavy burden until just a moment ago.

All the joints in my body ached.

But, in just one place.

There was one place that didn’t hurt, unlike usual.

I felt that sensation and smiled slightly.

Following that, I felt something soft touch my body.

Someone hugged me tightly as I lay on the floor. I liked the softness of that body. A body I had felt many times throughout my life.

The voice calling my name was mixed with sobs.

I’m sorry to the other person- and perhaps, I shouldn’t think this way about someone who protected me with their life.

Still, I preferred being worried about to worrying.

Something soft touched my forehead, and they hugged me tightly again.

The warmth I had felt many times, I never got tired of it and liked it. I would probably think the same way for many years to come, feeling that warmth.

I tried moving my fingers a little. It still hurt when my joints moved, so honestly, I was a little scared to put force into it, but still.

I like being worried about. I like it when someone cries for me. But I hope it’s not too much.

I didn’t want to hurt Ria.

I managed to move my arm and hugged Ria, who was hugging me, back. It smelled of sour sweat, and probably the smell of blood and the unpleasant smell characteristic of magic power.

But, inside that, deep down. Ria’s scent that I remember remained. The scent of the shampoo we use together.

“Anna.”

Ria called me with a tearful voice and hugged me even tighter. Honestly, it hurt a little. It felt like my joints, not just the ones I normally use for movement, but even the parts that should have been fixed in place, were creaking.

But, I was happy even with that sensation.

At least, she was here.

My goal has disappeared. The purpose for which I came to this world is no longer here.

Again, I returned to the state I was in before coming to this world.

The survival of humanity was no longer on my shoulders, and perhaps in the future, it might be a bit difficult for me to help people as diligently as before.

Days of alternating between home and work, occasionally traveling far away, and calling friends for a meal and drinks will likely repeat.

I thought it was a pretty good future.

“Ria.”

Come to think of it, that nickname was also one I gave her. Ria has always been Ria.

“Ria.”

As I whispered, Ria hugged me even tighter. So tight that it was a little difficult to breathe.

“…….”

Ah, really.

If you show me such a miracle, I don’t know how you expect me to deny it.

Well, I was the one who made the wish, after all.

I slowly moved my hand, patting Ria’s back, and thought.

Just as my body had no strength, Ria, who had run and swung her sword just as hard, also seemed to have no strength.

Ria, who was hugging me, slowly lay her body down on the ground.

Feeling a sudden pang of fear, I tightly hugged Ria’s waist with both my hands and pressed myself against her. Beyond Ria’s clothes, which she had taken off at some point, I could hear her regular breathing and heartbeat.

I kept clinging to her like that, trying not to miss those sounds.

We lay there on the meadow for a while.

The light shining down on us seemed to be holy power itself. The grass on the ground where we lay was returning, and thanks to that, we spent some time in a slightly better state than lying on bare stone.

Neither of us said anything.

Ria kept hugging me as if to put me in her embrace, and I lay quietly in her arms.

When did the gate open, after how much time?

I heard the murmuring of people, and the sounds of someone shouting and screaming.

We were both placed on stretchers. Holy cloths were draped over both our bodies.

The flags used on the battlefield.

Wrapped in that holy cloth, which still contained intense holy power, my body felt a little more comfortable.

From under the holy cloth, I reached out my hand to Ria. Ria took my hand.

And so, side by side, we returned home.

*

I later found out that it wasn’t just the Elf world that was in chaos.

Earth, the worlds of Gnomes and Dwarves. And the world of Beastmen too.

They said that as soon as the war began, magic power erupted everywhere.

However, it wasn’t to the same extent as the battlefield we were fighting on. At least, it seemed to be at a level that could be blocked by the hunters and heroes in each country.

Since the time I spent in that world was so long.

Moreover, I made a lot of holy artifacts whenever I had time. At least, those holy artifacts would have been distributed to every city where people survived properly.

……If a gate appeared in a desolate area with no people, then perhaps, I don’t know.

But even that would probably not be a big problem.

At least, that being, which seemed to be the embodiment of all the malice of the demons, had disappeared.

“……It seems the Pope did something great.”

I said with a slight smile while lying in bed.

“What great thing could I have done?”

The Pope sat a short distance from the bed and smiled slightly. The clothes he wore were not the ornate ones used for ceremonies, but simple white priestly robes.

“I just prayed with the believers.”

“…….”

For whom the prayer was intended was self-evident.

The Pope gazed at me for a while, then got up and bowed his head towards me.

“Your Holiness?”

As I tried to sit up in surprise, the Pope’s mouth opened first.

“One person carried too much burden. In the end, I couldn’t protect you until the very end. I’m sorry.”

“…….”

Is it because the Pope believes he cannot represent people that he apologizes before expressing gratitude for protecting them?

“……No, it was something someone had to do.”

And, I was the being who came down to do that work.

It wasn’t something that could be pushed onto anyone else. That statement was tantamount to giving up on this world.

From above, I heard those stories and came down. Although I had made a wish beforehand and locked my memories, so I couldn’t recall it immediately after coming down.

“It’s like Your Holiness was suppressing the magic power there with prayer. It’s just that the power we happened to have was different, and that’s why I just helped the people in front of my eyes.”

And, therefore, my thoughts remained the same.

I’m not foolish enough to think I can bear all the misfortunes of this world. And I’m also selfish. I wasn’t the type of person who would donate all my assets and live my life solely on volunteer work.

I would find praying bothersome, question going to church every week, and continue to express my opinion that the being above is not God.

However, perhaps a little more humbly than before.

After all, that being did its best to help this world.

The Pope bowed his head gently once more and left the hospital room.

Ria, who had been standing in the corner of the room, moved immediately and invaded the bed.

Even though she herself was hospitalized. In fact, both of us were wearing the same patient gowns.

I smiled a little as I watched Ria wriggle into the bed.

Usually, I’m the one who gets in.

Burying my face in her chest. Because I’m shorter.

“Wh-what?”

Ria asked, looking up at me slightly.

Although she was wearing at least underwear under her patient gown top, it felt a little strange because Ria’s mouth was between my chest when she spoke.

“It’s nothing.”

As I replied, Ria blushed slightly but just buried her face in my chest and said nothing.

Her arms, hugging me tightly.

I also hugged Ria tightly.

Yes.

Seeing Ria bury her face in my chest so casually, I thought it really didn’t matter.

There are still many things to sort out.

It will take some time until Ria can ‘pull me out’.

But, that’s not urgent.

So, I thought that the being above wouldn’t make a big deal out of wriggling around in bed for a few more hours.